diff --git a/packages/bazel/package.py b/packages/bazel/package.py
index a2cc4d96d205f9f0743b9bdbf2bdc22eb003113d..29564c82a67e307320f4df3110e4f9f3e38314f2 100644
--- a/packages/bazel/package.py
+++ b/packages/bazel/package.py
@@ -413,6 +413,9 @@ class Bazel(Package):
         "required for most builds using bazel with spack",
     )
 
+    # to provide ld via GCC_HOST_COMPILER_PREFIX
+    depends_on("binutils", type=("build"))
+
     # https://bazel.build/install/compile-source#bootstrap-unix-prereq
     depends_on("java", type=("build", "run"))
     depends_on("java@11", when="@5.3:", type=("build", "run"))
@@ -508,6 +511,9 @@ class Bazel(Package):
 
         return url.format(version)
 
+    def setup_dependent_build_environment(self, env, dependent_spec):
+        env.prepend_path("GCC_HOST_COMPILER_PREFIX", self.spec['binutils'].prefix.bin)
+
     def setup_build_environment(self, env):
         # fix the broken linking (on power9)
         # https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazel/issues/10327